India Summer-Sown Rice Planting Up 5.3% On Year

India's summer-sown rice planting, rose 5.3% to 36.88 million hectares compared with 35.03 million hectares a year ago, boosting prospects of a bumper output this year.

India's summer crop is sown from June and harvested during October, and is mostly dependent on monsoon rains for growth. Sowing of the summer crop is now largely over. However, rains are needed at regular intervals in September to nurture the maturing crop.